Official: Karabakh Armenians held hostage by Armenian leadership and field commanders in Karabakh (INTERVIEW)

Political Analysis and Informational Provision Department head at the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov talked to Trend .

Q: The first stage of the "Justice for Khojali" campaign is over. Is it possible to put criminals involved in the genocide against the Azerbaijani people to the international court in future?

A: The Khojali tragedy is a crime for which its perpetrators should be definitely made criminally responsible. Killing of innocent civilians, cruel acts against them do not fit the logic of military actions. Therefore, I think that it is necessary to use all possible legal and political means in order to bring the perpetrators of this tragedy to the International Court of Justice. None of the criminals who committed these crimes against civilians in Khojali cannot and should not be forgiven.

Q:Recently, Yerevan, concerned about Azerbaijan's statements on the possibility of military resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, tried to submit a resolution to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly requesting peaceful resolution of the conflict. What are the chances of adopting such resolution?

A: It shouldn't be forgotten that Azerbaijan is an active supporter of the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. We have not occupied by using force, but our lands are occupied. However, Armenia is aware that each process has its own limit point. We have witnessed a violation of fundamental principles of international law; territorial integrity of the state and borders. The rights of over a million people have been rudely violated. Socio-economic development of the region has suffered from enormous damage. And all this is a consequence of Armenian policy, which seeks to realize its own illusory ideas.

Today, Armenia is concerned about the strengthening of military-political and economic potential of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the people who live on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh do not want to be the object of an irrational policy coming from official Yerevan. Armenians of Karabakh seek peace in their own country and want to be part of the socio-economic development, to take advantage of all preferences of effective development. But what does official Yerevan give them except tales on "independence?" Nothing. The Armenians of Karabakh were held hostage by Armenian leadership and field commanders in the Karabakh, as conflict creates the conditions for a comfortable existence and enrichment through the illegal arms and drug trafficking for Armenia.

Azerbaijan also offers to be part of the process of economic development and infrastructural reforms. While Yerevan is thinking about saving the image in their own society, thousands of people who do not want to be out of the realities of human development suffer in Karabakh. For whom and for what they have to endure the hardships of war? For the ambitious plans of the Armenian government? Official Yerevan understands the hopelessness of its own position. Therefore, tries every way to secure itself against the foreign policy, and of course domestic political fiasco.

Any conflict should be resolved peacefully. But it is difficult to talk about peace, when you neighbor is irrational, and for the sake of its own mercenary interests doesn't want to accept reality.

Q:After criticism at Azerbaijani Presidential Administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev a number of Azerbaijani television channels said that they will improve the quality of their broadcasts. Has the level improved?

A: I think the channels have to do much in order to bring the level of their broadcasts to the standards on which Azerbaijani Presidential Administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev spoke. Of course, some channels have taken certain steps, the progress is noticeable. But, unfortunately, the preponderance of TV programs, which negatively affect the socio-cultural atmosphere, is still valid. The level of intellectual and analytical TV programs makes one to desire much more. But society should respond to this situation. The authorities expressed their attitude towards the level of broadcasting of TV and radio channels. However, majority of television channels - are private stations, respectively, the public reaction should regulate what he wants to see.

Q:On the eve of parliamentary elections, how do you assess the internal political situationin Azerbaijan? What are the chances of the current government and opposition in the upcoming elections?

A: In general, the internal political situation in the country fully meets the spirit of democratic development. There are parties, which compete with each other, discuss the possibilities of upcoming political battles, alliances and blocs. When the electoral process is close, the situation becomes usually tight. All this is natural, and even the already familiar. Each election is a movement forward in the field of democratization. So these elections will not be an exception. I am sure that democratic and transparent political competition and elections arising from the desire of voters to vote for the most worthy candidate wait for all of us.

But in general, we have two hypostasis; the ruling party and opposition which is wallowed in internal squabbles. The opposition was unable to transform itself into a new force, to conduct an inspection within itself, and be eventually transfigure itself and become an integral part of the political process in Azerbaijan. This predetermines the chances of any force, as well as the results of the elections.